Rickshaw facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

A rickshaw is a type of vehicle with two or three wheels. It is usually pulled by a person, but some rickshaws are pulled by a bicycle or have their own motor.

In the 1800s, pulled rickshaws became a very popular way to travel in Asian cities. They also provided jobs for many men. Their invention was helped by new discoveries about ball-bearing systems, which made wheels turn more smoothly. Over time, as cars, trains, and other transport became common, the popularity of pulled rickshaws decreased.

Today, auto rickshaws are becoming popular again in some cities. They are a cheaper choice than taxis for getting around.

The Story of Rickshaws

Where Did Rickshaws Come From?

Rickshaws were first invented in Japan around 1869. This was after a rule banning wheeled vehicles was lifted. It was also at the start of a time when Japan was quickly making many new inventions.

Who Invented the Rickshaw?

There are different ideas about who invented the rickshaw. The most common idea is that it was invented in Japan in 1869. Three men, Izumi Yosuke, Suzuki Tokujiro, and Takayama Kosuke, worked together to build them. They were inspired by horse carriages that had recently arrived in Tokyo.

Other ideas about the inventor include:

Jonathan Scobie, an American missionary in Japan, is said to have invented it around 1869. He wanted to carry his wife through the streets of Yokohama.
An American blacksmith named Albert Tolman might have invented a "man drawn lorry" in 1846 in Worcester, Massachusetts.
In New Jersey, a carriage maker named James Birch is said to have invented it in 1867. His museum even has a Birch rickshaw.

A historian named Seidensticker wrote that rickshaws seem to be from Japan, especially Tokyo. He said the most accepted idea names three inventors and gives 1869 as the invention year.

What Does a Rickshaw Look Like?

The first rickshaws had a wooden carriage with good Western-style wheels. They were much better than older ways of traveling. Before, sedan chairs needed two people to carry them. But a rickshaw usually needed only one person to pull it. If the area was hilly, more than one person might be needed. Rickshaws also gave passengers a smoother ride. Other vehicles at that time were pulled by animals or were like wheelbarrows.

The Powerhouse Museum in Sydney, Australia, has a rickshaw from about 1880. It is described as: "A rickshaw is a light, two-wheeled cart. It has a chair-like body without a door, springs for comfort, a roof that can fold down, and two long handles. It was made of wood with black shiny paint and pulled by one rickshaw runner."

Rickshaws in the Late 1800s

In the late 1800s, hand-pulled rickshaws became a cheap and popular way to travel across Asia. Many poor farmers who moved to big Asian cities often started by working as rickshaw pullers. It was a very hard and dangerous job.

Japan's Rickshaws

Starting in 1870, the Tokyo government gave permission to Izumi Yosuke, Takayama Kosuke, and Suzuki Tokujiro to build and sell rickshaws. To operate a rickshaw in Tokyo, you needed a special stamp from these men. By 1872, rickshaws had replaced older ways of transport like the kago. They became the main way to get around in Japan, with about 40,000 rickshaws in use. At that time, human power was much cheaper than horse power. Horses were mostly used by the military.

Some rickshaws were decorated with beautiful paintings. But later, very fancy decorations were not allowed. Rich families might even have their own rickshaw puller. Pullers usually traveled about 32 to 48 kilometers (20 to 30 miles) a day. They moved at an average speed of 8 kilometers (5 miles) per hour.

Japanese companies also made and sent rickshaws to other Asian countries and South Africa.

Singapore's Rickshaws

Singapore got its first rickshaws in 1880. Soon after, there were many of them, changing the look of Singapore's streets. Before rickshaws, people used Bullock carts and gharries.

Many of the poorest people in Singapore in the late 1800s were Chinese immigrants. These hardworking men found that pulling a rickshaw was a new chance to find work. In 1897, a special law was used to stop a four-day strike by rickshaw workers.

Rickshaws in Other Places

In China, the rickshaw was first seen in 1873 and used for public transport the next year. Within a year, 10,000 rickshaws were being used. Around 1880, rickshaws appeared in India. They were first brought to Simla by Reverend J. Fordyce. By 1914, they were available for hire in Calcutta, India. Rickshaws also came to Korea in the late 1800s.

Rickshaws in the 1900s

After World War II, the use of human-pulled rickshaws changed a lot. Many cities in developing countries started to ban them. This was because they were seen as a sign of old-fashioned class differences. It felt wrong to have one person pulling another like an animal.

The cycle rickshaw was invented in the 1880s. It became common in Singapore starting in 1929. By 1950, they were found in every country in South and East Asia. By the late 1980s, there were about 4 million cycle rickshaws around the world.

Rickshaws in Africa

Rickshaws were brought to Durban, South Africa. By 1904, about 2,000 rickshaw pullers were registered there. Rickshaws were also used in Nairobi in the early 1900s. Pullers there went on strike in 1908. In the 1920s, they were used in Bagamoyo, Tanga, Tanzania and other parts of East Africa for short trips.

Rickshaws in Asia

In Japan, rickshaws became less popular by the 1930s. This was because cars and trains became more common. After World War II, when gas and cars were hard to find, rickshaws made a short comeback. Today, the rickshaw tradition continues in Kyoto and Tokyo's geisha areas. In the 1990s, German-made cycle rickshaws called "velotaxis" were introduced in Japanese cities like Kobe.

In post war Hong Kong, rickshaws were a main way to transport goods and people during the Japanese invasion. After World War II, other types of transport like pedicabs and streetcars became popular. This caused the rickshaw business to slow down.

In China, the number of rickshaw pullers went down after the new streetcar system started in 1924. A simple type of rickshaw is sometimes used for carrying coal or building materials. Both motorized and pedal-powered cycle rickshaws are used for short passenger trips. Many cities still have rickshaws for tours or short rides. However, the new government banned rickshaws in Canton in the early 1950s.

In Singapore, the rickshaw's popularity grew into the 1900s. There were about 50,000 rickshaws in 1920, and that number doubled by 1930. Cycle rickshaws started being used in Singapore in 1929. Within six years, there were more cycle rickshaws than pulled rickshaws. Tourists also used them for sightseeing.

In the 1930s, cycle rickshaws were used in Kolkata, India; Jakarta, Indonesia; and Dhaka, Bangladesh. By 1950, they were in many South and East Asian countries. By the end of the 20th century, Dhaka had 300,000 such vehicles. By the end of 2013, Delhi had about 100,000 electric rickshaws.

Rickshaws in North America

Pedicabs came to North America in 1962. They were used for transport at the Seattle World's Fair in Washington.

Rickshaws in the 2000s

The 21st century has seen rickshaws become popular again. This is especially true for motorized rickshaws and cycle rickshaws. Auto rickshaws, also called velotaxis, have become popular because they cost much less than regular taxis. German velotaxis are three-wheeled vehicles with space for a driver and two passengers. Cycle rickshaws are used in many cities in North America, Europe, and Asia. They are becoming a popular eco-friendly way to travel short distances in cities. Both auto rickshaws and cycle rickshaws are also used for tourism, as they offer a fun way to see a city.

Rickshaws in Africa Today

In Madagascar, pulled, cycle, and auto rickshaws are common in many cities, especially Antsirabe. They are called pousse-pousse, which means push-push.

Rickshaws in Asia Today

Macau still uses three-wheeled bicycle rickshaws, called Riquexó in Portuguese. They were very popular until the late 1900s because Macau was a small city with few cars or good public transport. You can ride a rickshaw around Macau and visit the Riquexó Museum to see how rickshaws have changed over time.

Automated cycle rickshaws, called velotaxis, are popular in Kyoto and Tokyo, Japan. Their use is growing quickly in Japanese cities. Traditional rickshaws are still used for tourists in some places in Japan. Rickshaws are also found in Hong Kong. In China, motorized and pedal-powered cycle rickshaws are used for short trips in large and medium-sized cities. Most Indian cities have auto rickshaw service. Hand-pulled rickshaws still exist in some areas, like Kolkata, as part of their transport system. Sri Lanka had over 1 million auto rickshaws registered by 2018.

Rickshaws in Australia Today

In Australia, Cycle rickshaws or trishaws (3 wheels) are used in Melbourne and St Kilda. They are also seen in Cowaramup, Western Australia.

Rickshaws in Europe Today

Cycle rickshaws or trishaws (3 wheels) are used in most large European cities, such as:

Austria: Vienna
Denmark: Copenhagen and Odense
France: Paris and Nantes
Germany: Lake Constance, Berlin, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Hanover and other cities.
Hungary: Budapest
Ireland: Cork and Dublin.
Italy: Florence, Milan, and Rome
The Netherlands: Amsterdam and in the Caribbean, Willemstad
Norway: Oslo
Poland: Kraków and Łódź
Russia: Saint Petersburg
Spain: Barcelona
Switzerland: Bern

In the United Kingdom, pedicabs operate in:

London, mostly in Soho and other central areas. Their prices are not controlled, so they can charge a lot.
Edinburgh, where they are hired like taxis and give tours.
Oxford.

Rickshaws in America Today

In Canada, pedicabs operate in Victoria and Vancouver. They are regulated in these cities and in Toronto. Pulled rickshaw rides are available in downtown Ottawa, offering tours of the historical Byward Market.

In the United States, San Diego and New York City each have hundreds of pedicabs. Many other North American cities also have pedicab services. In New York, human-powered transport is mostly used by tourists because of its cost. In New Orleans, pedicabs have been used to transport French Quarter tourists since 2012.
In Mexico, there are thousands of pedicabs. Drivers often work long hours (11.3 hours a day) for low pay (about US$59.18 per week). They usually do not have social protections or benefits. Many drivers own their vehicles.

Types of Rickshaws

There are different kinds of rickshaws:

A pulled rickshaw: This is a two-wheeled cart pulled by a person.
A cycle rickshaw: Also called a pedicab, it's like a bicycle with a passenger seat.
An auto rickshaw: Also called a tuk-tuk, auto, mototaxi, or baby taxi, it has a motor.
An electric rickshaw: Also called e-rickshaw, it uses an electric motor.